Firearm.



WQ J 020:4.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS C. JOHNSON, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO., OF NEW HAVEN. CONNECTI- Specification of Letters Patent.

FIREARM.

Patented Nov. 20, 1906.

Application filed April 21, 1906. Serial No 313.009.

To aZZ whmn it may concern:

it known that I, THOMAS C. JOHNSON, a QlZen of the United States, residing atXew Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Firearms; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken n connection with the accompanying drawmgs and the figures of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a view, partly in right-hand side elevation and partly in vertical section, of a gun constructed in accordance with my in vention and shown with. the breech-block in its normal or closed position; Fig. 2, a view thereof in transverse section on the line (1 l) of Fig. 1. looking rearward.

M y invention relates to an improvement in balanced breech-block automatic firearm of the type shown and described in my Patent No. 681,481, granted August 27, 1901, the object being to provide for focusing the shock of recoil upon the barrel itself at a point forward of the gun-frame and breech mechanism, which are thus relieved from racks and strains.

With these ends in view my invention consists in the construction to be heremafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In carrying out my invention as herein shown I form a deep circular air-chamber 2 in an integral lug 3, depending from the rear end of a non-recoiling barrel 4, formed with a threaded stem 5, by means of which it is rig idly mounted in the gun-frame or receiver 6. In the bottom of the said air-chamber 2 I loeats a relatively thick buffer 7, made of vulcanized fiber or equivalent material and prevented from being flattened or deformed by its confinement b y the walls of the chamber. Against this buffer I by preference place a steel washer 8, which forms a bearing for the inner coil of a helical recoil-taking spring 9, rectangular in cross-section and made by winding a flat steel wire upon a cylindrical core. The forward end of the said chamber 2 is closed by a steel plunger 10, resting upon the front coil of the said spring 9 and projecting forward out of the chamber, its forward end engaging with a shoulder 11, formed upon the breech-block guide-rod 12, which passes rearward through it, well as through the said spring 9, the washer 8, and the buffer 7, and is formed with threads 13,wherebyit is screwed into the lug 3. The extreme rear end of this rod forms a locking-bolt 14 and enters a dowel-hole 15 in the frame 6 for preventing the barrel 4 from turning in case it is jarred loose by the shock of recoil. A breech-block-closing spring 16, encircling the rod 12, impinges at its rear end upon the forward face of the plunger 10 and extends forward into a chamber 17 m a bearing head 18, located at the forward ends of two side pieces 19, which at their rear ends terminate in the front end of the breech-block or closure 20, the said head 18 and side pieces 19 constituting a forwardly-projecting balancing extension for the breech-block. The rear end of the head 18 constitutes a recoil-face 21, which impinges against the front face of the plunger 10, which takes the first shock of recoil.

When the gun is fired, the breech-block 20 moves back and compresses the spring 16 until the recoil-taking face 21 of the bearinghead 18 impinges against the front face of the plunger 10, which then moves back against the tension of the recoil-taking spring 9 and the elasticity of the air confined within the chamber 2. As the breechblock moves back with great velocity the air in the, chamber 2 is suddenly caught and confined, having no opportunity of escape around the surface of the plunger. Virtually the entire body of air within the chamber is,therefore compressed and constitutes an air-cushion of great effectiveness as an absorber of the shock of recoil. In case the tension of the recoil-taking spring 9 and the tension of the confined and compressed air are insuiiicient to take the entire shock of recoil (which might happen in case the cartridge used contained a heavier charge than was intended for a given gun) the buffer 7 will be brought into play for taking up so much of the thrust of recoil as has not already been absorbed. In this way the life of the helical spring is indefinitely preserved. The shock of recoil having spent itself, the breech-blockclosing s ring 16 asserts itself to return the breech-b ock to its normal or closed position at the same time that the spring 9 reasserts itself to move the plunger 10 forward into its recoil-taking position, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The spring 9 is stronger than the spring 16, whereby the plunger is normally held in its forward position against the shoulder 1 1 of the guide-rod 12 I claim 1. In an automatic gun, the combination with a non-recoiling part having an airchamber, of a breech mechanism, and a recoil-taking mechanism having a plunger located in the said air-chamber and engaged by a recoiling part of the said breech. mechanism.

2. In an automatic firearm, the combinationwith the frame thereof, of a barrel having a depending recoil-taking lug containing a forwardly-opening air-chamber, a breechblock having a forwardly-projecting extension, a breech-block guide-rod mounted. in the said lug and forming a guide for the said extension, a breech-block-closing spring encircling the said rod, a spring located in the said chamber, and a plunger located in the mouth of the said chamber and engaged by the said extension to take the first shock of recoil.

3. In an automatic firearm, the combina tion with the frame thereof, of a barrel having a depending recoil-taking lug containing a forwardly-opening air-chamber, a buffer, a washer, a spring, and a plunger all arranged in the said chamber in the order named from the inner to the outer end thereof, a guiderod extending rearwardly through the said plunger, spring, washer and buffer and rigidly mounted in the said lug, a breech-blockclosing spring encircling the rod, and a breech-block having a forwardly-projecting extension coacting with the said plunger which compresses the air in the said chamber as well as the recoil-taking spring.

4. In an automatic firearm, the combination with the frame thereof, of a barrel having a depending recoil-taking lug containing a forwardly-opening air-chamber, a breechblock having a forwardly-projecting extension, and a plunger located in the mouth of the said air-chamber and engaged by the said extension'to take the first shock of "recoil which is cushioned by the air in the airchamber.

5. In an automatic firearm, the combination with the frame thereof, of a barrel having a depending recoil-taking lug containing a forwardly-opening air-chamber, a breechblock having a forwardly-projecting extension, a plunger located in-the said chamber and engaged by the said extension to take the first shock of recoil which is cushioned by the air in the said chamber, and a spring located within the said chamber for coaction with the said plunger.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS C. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

ARTHUR W. EARLE, HERBERT F. BEEBE. 

